It's Not Personal, Sonny. It's Business: How to run your family, life and business like a Sicilian

By Steph Palermo

Steph Palermo, raised in a Sicilian family, taps into her experiences both at home and in Sicily to bring you simple wisdom to transform your life and business. Sicilians are passionate about family, food, love and respect. Steph tackles Sicilian traditions like the family dinner table, forgiveness, loyalty and generosity. She offers tips on incorporating these values and others into your life to strengthen familial bonds, inspire lives and ultimately positively affect the bottom line in your business. As a short story teller, Steph draws you into her world and demonstrates how adopting a Sicilian way of thinking and being, you will begin to value all you have. You will enjoy healthy relationships, inner peace and an increase in productivity at home and work, not to mention an increase in appreciation of mealtime.

If you are of Italian or Sicilian descent, you will identify with Steph's stories as you stroll down memory lane. She will remind you of what you may have forgotten, or you will nod in agreement as a practicing Sicilian.

This book is for anyone who wants to truly embrace life and enjoy every moment. Whether you are interested in positively influencing your family, a single person who desires to offer and receive value in relationships or a business owner who cares about employees and increasing productivity. You will learn what it takes to reach your desired outcomes. Steph Palermo melds old school values with our current, modern day world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gatekeeper Press
• Release date: Jul 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781662900747

Book preview

It’s Not Personal, Sonny. It’s Business © Copyright 2020 Stephanie Palermo

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Adherence to all applicable laws and regulations, including international, federal, state and local governing professional licensing, business practices, advertising, and all other aspects of doing business in the US, Canada or any other jurisdiction is the sole responsibility of the reader and consumer.

Neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility or liability whatsoever on behalf of the consumer or reader of this material. Any perceived slight of any individual or organization is purely unintentional.

The resources in this book are provided for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the specialized training and professional judgment of a health care or mental health care professional.

Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for the use of the information provided within this book. Please always consult a trained professional before making any decision regarding treatment of yourself or others.

For more information, email [e-mail].

The cover design and editorial work for this book are entirely the product of the author. Gatekeeper Press did not participate in and is not responsible for any aspect of these elements.

ISBN (hardcover): 9781662900723

ISBN (paperback): 9781662900730

eISBN: 9781662900747

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020907048

Also by Steph Palermo:

The Only Way is Up: Just Steph’s Perspective on Life

Coming Soon:

Where The Hell Are Those Ruby Slippers:?

The Search for the Power

Dedication

The only appropriate person in my life to dedicate this book to is my grandmother, Mary Toscano Palermo. She was born to Francesco and Francesca Toscano in Riesi, Sicily. They settled in Boston’s North End where most Italian immigrants pitched their figurative tents.

Grandma was a dominant person in our family. She was strong willed and pushy. Grandma loved drama. She screamed at wakes, cried at the drop of a dime. After Grandpa passed, she wanted everyone to think her life was so bad. Her favorite saying was, I pray every day God will take me. Inevitably, I would be rolling my eyes behind her thinking, does she know where she’s going? Poor Grandma!

While Grandma had that less-than-admirable side, she could be so sweet, and she loved her family. Grandma loved my sister and me to death. She would scream when she saw me, Steph, you are a movie star! She called my sister Miss America. Grandma, as dysfunctional as she was, truly wanted to be in our lives. We were her life.

Grandma worked tirelessly to continue all the Sicilian traditions taught to her. She was the best baker. Who can bake without a recipe? Grandma. She baked all the rustic Sicilian sweets like cassateddi con ricotta, ricotta pie and sfingi. Lamb at Easter, seafood on Christmas Eve, and zeppoli di San Giuseppe on March 19, St Joseph’s Day.

Grandma was connected to Sicily and talked relentlessly about Riesi. The old country was the foundation for everything Grandma did and taught. We were involved, as a family, with The St. Joseph Society of Boston of which Papa Cicino (my great-grandfather, Mary’s father) was one of the founders. Riesi, the cousins, traditions, and the food were all drilled into my head. They became part of me.

Grandma is the reason why I was so attracted to Sicily. Her love for all that is steeped in Sicilian life became my drive to spend extended time in Sicily, learn more about the life and remember what I forgot she taught me. Grandma is the reason you all are getting these lessons in this book.

Thank you, Grandma. I love and miss you. I want so badly to ask you questions. I long tell you how much I appreciate what you gave to me. I would love to share with you how much I love Sicily and the lessons I learned growing up Sicilian. But, I guess you already know.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Preface

It Takes A Village

Pass the Pasta

R.E.S.P.E.C.T

Like Glue

Bless Me, For I Have Sinned

The Shirt Off My Back

They Work Hard For Their Money

Put On the Coffee

Don’t Be A Scaredy